Preview: The Silents

RECOMMENDED
Any band that kicks off a record with a song called “Eat Your Face” is alright in my book. It helps that the song is endlessly catchy, too, as are most of the tracks on “Sleepwalker,” local act The Silents’ new record (tonight’s the release celebration). A good nostalgic ride through eighties alt-rock, the band neatly avoids any real tag, as its songs are actually quite different from one another. At times straight-up rock ‘n’ roll, sometimes indie-rock and, in moments, Joy Division, The Silents create a wide spectrum of appealing noise. I dig the gentle guitar-and-voice build-up of “Down in the Desert,” as when it’s happening you can’t anticipate where it’s going to go. Digression: The Silents’ use the type of distorted, effects-driven lead guitar—the kind that the Editors use on virtually every one of their songs—quite often; am I the only one that feels a deep, uncomfortable nothingness in the pit of my belly when I hear this type of accompaniment? Not because it’s necessarily bad, or because it doesn’t suit the song—it’s more the feeling you get when you’re watching a film, and you see the main character get embarrassed or humiliated. (Tom Lynch)Saturday, February 16 at Double Door